Website redesign to improve user experience for CPA exam participants
My Role:
Product Designer, Team Lead
UX Research, Content Audit, Information Architecture, Visual Design, Design System
Team Size:
3 Designers
Year:
March 2023 - Apr 2023
Tools:
Figma, FigJam, Google docs
ExamPrep.ai is an EdTech startup that provides AI-assisted exam preparation for aspiring accountants taking the CPA exams.
Examprep.ai recently completed an 8-month beta and was planning to launch in May. However, the UX still has some rough spots and the team wants to identify any issues that may negatively impact user satisfaction.
The goal is to simplify the UX, enhance AI, and increase user engagement.
Explore more on Examprep.ai!
In a team of 3, I led the redesign of key parts across the platform.
Research
Conducted an in-depth analysis to identify usability challenges in the current platform.
UX
UX Improvement
Redesigned the left navigation bar and led designs for the Dashboard, Resource, and Support pages.
UI
UI Design
Introduced a design system to establish consistency in the platform’s visual and functional elements.
Research
With limited resources, our team need to be creative.
Our research identified three essential platform needs:
A Place to Learn
Video or text-based lessons
A Place to Practice
Questions, simulations, and mock exams to help students solidify what they've learned
A Place to Track Progress
Indicators that showed levels of proficiency so that student know where they are at
I undertook a design audit and analyzed the information architecture of ExamPrep.ai, using my QA skills to identify key UX issues within limited time and resources.
Three major issues:
Lack of Hierarchy
The information lacks a clear structure, making it challenging for users to understand how the information is organized and related.
Overwhelming Content
Excessive content per page, overwhelming users and obscuring focus points.
Inconsistent Labeling & UI Elements
Different labels and UI elements causing confusion across the platform.
User-Friendly Dashboard
A simple, efficient dashboard for easy navigation.
Automated Personalization
Tailored lessons and quizzes targeting individual weaknesses.
Clear Performance Indicators
Tools to track proficiency and identify areas for improvement.
Engagement Motivators
Engagement Motivators
How might we
Leverage ExamPrep.ai to boost engagement, address learning gaps, and enhance motivation, increasing CPA candidates' exam success?
Prioritization of issues
To meet deadlines with a compressed design phase, we prioritized key design aspects and focused on three critical questions:
Is a restructuring needed for the website?
Yes.
New sections was introduced to simplify navigation.
Do we need a design system right now?
Yes.
Our UX audit uncovered inconsistent UI design, disrupting navigation. Consistency is key to improving user learning and reducing confusion.
Which part of the website redesign we should focus on?
Our design audit highlighted three key sections for left navigation integration. We focused on redesigning these areas and the navigation bar, assigning each section to a team member.
Left Navigation Bar (Sherry Wu, me)
Dashboard Page (Sherry Wu, me)
Lesson Page
Review Page
The redesign
Collapsible Sidebar Navigation
From our Competitor Analysis, we implemented a collapsible sidebar navigation to optimize space as requested by the client, while offering flexibility for users to expand it when needed.
Before
After
Dashboard Page
Existing Pain Points
Progress Indicators Overload
No Clear CTAs
Study Stage not intuitive
Before
Study Stage Optimization
The study stage is critical to our product but previously had an overly complex design, making it unclear where users should start.
Before
After
Performance Indicator Simplification
ExamPrep.ai initially used a grid to display proficiency levels, but it confused users with unclear blocks and excessive colors
Before
To simplify, I replaced it with a progress bar, offering clear percentages and guidance on areas for improvement.
After
Guiding User Progress
Explore more on Examprep.ai!
Reflection & Learning
Working on this real-world project was immensely valuable for me, allowing collaboration and deepening my understanding of my team members' thought processes. Despite the challenges we faced as a startup, these obstacles provided unique opportunities for improvement. Some of the main challenges I encountered included:
User Recruitment Difficulty: Struggling to find users willing to participate in interviews and usability tests.
Time Limitations: With the tight timeline, it was impossible to address every UX problem, necessitating prioritization of the most impactful areas.
If I were to redo this project again, I would:
Initiate User Engagement Earlier: Focus on recruiting users and setting up interviews sooner.
Seek Early Feedback: Share ideas earlier to receive feedback at preliminary stages.
